To address healthcare system costs, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act established an abbreviated pathway for less expensive copies of biologic drugs called biosimilars. Biosimilars have struggled to penetrate the U.S. market, including those developed by major players. Biosimilars of Remicade (infliximab) have managed to capture only 6% of the U.S. market 21 months post-launch. By contrast, the EU has witnessed a more rapid uptake of biosimilars, likely due to stronger payer control and regulatory guidelines facilitating biosimilar penetration (such as the NHS commissioning framework for biological medicines in the U.K.). In the U.S., the FDA has followed suit by developing the Biosimilars Action Plan (BAP) to strike a balance between innovation and competition in the U.S. biologics market.

To address healthcare system costs, the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act established an abbreviated pathway for less expensive copies of biologic drugs called biosimilars. Biosimilars have struggled to penetrate the U.S. market, including those developed by major players. Biosimilars of Remicade (infliximab) have managed to capture only 6% of the U.S. market 21 months post-launch. By contrast, the EU has witnessed a more rapid uptake of biosimilars, likely due to stronger payer control and regulatory guidelines facilitating biosimilar penetration (such as the NHS commissioning framework for biological medicines in the U.K.). In the U.S., the FDA has followed suit by developing the Biosimilars Action Plan (BAP) to strike a balance between innovation and competition in the U.S. biologics market.